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Westminster is awash with political plots and leadership rumours amid this Brexit disarray at the heart of Government.

Remainers are seizing upon the chaos to push for another referendum just two years after Britons voted Leave in the historic vote.

And Brexiteers are also gunning for the PM's deal and demanding that she tears up the hated backstop plan and play hardball with the EU on the divorce bill.

Cabinet Office minister David Lidington and Justice Secretary David Gauke have been holding the secret discussions with opposition MPs.

They have also discussed options to push for a Norway-style deal, which would effectively keep the UK in the single market and customs union, and keep free movement.

The revelations, reported in The Sunday Times, will spark fury among Brexiteers who have warned of a plot by Remainer MPs to thwart Brexit.

With the PM's plans plunged into turmoil, civil servants have war-gamed two versions of the UK holding another referendum.

The Prime Minister (pictured visiting a church in Maidenhead today) mounted a last-ditch bid to win over her mutinous backbenchers after over 100 Tory MPs threatened to rebel in the crunch vote on her deal

The first is a straight choice between the PM's deal and remaining in the EU.

And the second would be a leave, remain contest with a second question asking them if they prefer the existing deal or a no-deal departure on World Trade Organisation terms.

Meanwhile, defence minster Tobias Ellwood today hinted that he could back a second referendum in the future.

He said: 'If parliament does not agree a Brexit deal soon, then we must recognise that the original mandate to leave, taken over two years ago, will begin to date and will, eventually, no longer represent a reflection of current intent.'

One cabinet minister told The Observer that the PM was so committed to the deal that 'a second referendum could now be the only way of getting it'.

The revelations come a day after Amber Rudd said ministers could back a Norway-style deal if Mrs May's plan is voted down this week.

What is the Norway-plus Brexit plan which some MPs are backing?

In the wake of a defeat on her deal, Mrs May would have 21 days to bring a new plan to the House of Commons.

But an amendment tabled by Tory Remainer rebel Dominic Greive and passed this week has given parliament a platform to start dictating the terms.

MPs will be able to spell out potential plans and vote on them - giving a strong indication of where opinion lies.

Support is likely to gather around a 'Norway-plus' plan that has long been pushed by Tory backbencher Nick Boles.

Former Cabinet ministers Oliver Letwin said this week that he believes there is a majority for that style of relationship, other senior figures such as Nicky Morgan have endorsed it, along with substantial numbers of Labour MPs. A group of Cabinet ministers have been mulling it over as a fallback plan.

It would effectively keep the UK in the single market, with a customs bolt-on to avoid a hard Irish border, and backers say it would keep Britain close to the EU while cutting contributions to Brussels.

However, critics say it has the drawbacks of keeping free movement, - and tightly limiting the possibilities for doing trade deals elsewhere.

The EU is also thought to have concerns about a country the UK's size joining the EEA, while other states in the group might be resistant.

If the Norway model was endorsed by the Commons, it would not be binding on the government.

But it would have huge political force, and it might be very difficult for ministers to face down the calls.

Mrs May is unlikely to be able to put the policy in place as it break her often-stated red lines.

In the end, it might need a new government of national unity, perhaps led by a respected cross-party figure, to put the UK on course for Norway-plus - with the prospect of a general election soon afterwards.